When you go through a green light, do you have to make sure the intersection is clear?

Question

are there any laws regaurding this in NY?

Answer 1

Yes you have to make sure the intersection is clear before you enter it, even though you have a green light.

And, yes there are laws regarding this in NY.

The NYS DMV manual Chaper 4 states that when approaching a steady green traffic light "Go, but yield the right-of-way to other traffic at the intersection as required by law."

Chapter 5 explains that if you are approaching or at a green light that you must yield to pedestrians and traffic that are already lawfully using the intersection.

Three examples:
1. If you approach the intersection and your light is green, but someone else is already in the intersect making a left turn in front of you then you are required to yield the right-of-way to them and not enter the intersection until they have completed their turn.
2. If a pedestrian is in the crosswalk and your light turns green or you approach the intersection and your light is green, but there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk then you must wait for the pedestrian to cross before you enter the intersection.
3. If the light is green, but traffic is blocking the intersection then you must not enter the intersection until the traffic is clear enough for you to go all the way through the intersection.

Obviously, if there are emergency vehicles in or approaching the intersection then you must not enter the intersection, even if your light is green and their's is red.

Answer 2

When the traffic light turns green, the opposite light has already turned amber, and then red. This is to allow any drivers who entered the intersection as the light turned amber to completely leave the intersection Drivers are responsible for safely entering any intersection. Drivers should not enter the intersection after the light has turned amber.They should look left, then right, then left again as the light turns green before proceeding. It just makes sense. Those who don't may end up in a crash one day.
As for laws in NY, Im not sure.

Answer 3

Let's suppose the light just changed to green, and there's cross traffic that have not yet cleared the intersection, then you are not supposed to go into the intersection until they have in fact got out of the way.

I see this violated a lot. There's like a bumper to bumper traffic jam ... people inch forwards if there is room, and at a time that they think it is legal for them to inch forwards, then the traffic light changes & here is a row of cars blocking the intersection.

The cross traffic inches forwards ... some people in the blockage are able to inch forwards or back, and now there is a hole for a traffic jam going the other way, then the light changes again, and you have a real mess.

Answer 4

If you've got the green, you don't have to make sure. However, if you're the first one approaching an intersection after it turns green (or even when appraoching an intersection in general) you would be very smart to make sure the intersection is clear. All too often people are running red lights and I've seen too many near misses.

Answer 5

I dont know about NY but here in TX you still have to make sure the intersection is clear. They will say you should be paying attention to everything in front of you and in your mirrors.

Answer 6

Yes, If you dont want to die.
always look while going through an intersection to make sure no one is coming.

Answer 7

I would recommend you do so
there are laws everywhere
You may have a green light but
there are motorists who run red lights

The same for stop signs

Answer 8

i'm not sure if there are exact laws for this, but it's just safe thinking & common sense to check an intersection before you go through it.

Answer 9

Always look both ways when entering an intersection you might live longer.

Answer 10

probably a good idea. ever speed through a yellow light just as it turns red? things happen, and if you see a car blasting through the intersection when it's your turn, you should probably wait. just use your eyes...